Weekend Getaways near Delhi

Good Friday Long Weekend Packages Around Delhi

2012-03-20T08:04:00.001-07:00

Hi Friends,
Been very busy at work,travelling and more so could not interact with you through the blog. Have been more active on our Facebook pages http://facebook.com/AroundDelhi and our deals page - http://facebook.com/AroundDelhiDeals in interacting with fans. My request is to also join us as fan on Facebook to keep abreast of the new resorts, packages and deals that are given regularly on these pages.

Friends, we are fast approaching a long weekend on Good Friday, 6th-8th April 2012, also even 5th April is holiday due to Mahaveer Jayanti/Ide Milad making it a real long weekend. A lot of people have already planner their holiday with us and if you will also like to do so contact us before it is too late. I will like to present here some of the resorts which can be booked to enjoy this long weekend. We have divided these according to Resorts around Delhi, Hills, Forests, Camping/Adventure and Desert Rajasthan. So here goes...

Around Delhi

Fort Unchagaon, a heritage and Village fort resort, 3 hrs from Delhi. Package starts at Rs 4500/- per night for a couple with bfast.(taxes extra)

Country Inn Kosi situated on the Delhi Agra higway, lush green lawns, recreation and more, package-Rs 5500/- per night with bf & dinner.

Hans Resorts, a nice resort about 70k from Delhi with 4 star facilities.

Damdama, good for adventure with across the lake camps and rooms, just 50k from Delhi

Hills

Country Inn, Bhimtal Luxury Deluxe Room: Rs. 14,999/- per couple for 2 nites / 3 days with Breakfast & Dinner Around 300k from Delhi in the lower hills.

Naini Retreat, Nainital: Deluxe Rs. 13,500/- + Tax 15% for 2 nites 3 days per couple with breakfast & Dinner One of the best resort/hotel in Nainital, their USP is their food and interactive programmes.

Surya Vilas Solan: Deluxe Room 15,000/- + Tax per couple for 2 nites / 3 days with breakfast & Dinner. A lovely spa resort about 7 hrs from Delhi.

Moksha Parwanoo One of the best spa resort of the Country, package starts at Rs 15000/- per night.

Classic Hilltop Chamba Deluxe Room 11,999/- + tax 15.15% per couple for 2 nites / 3 days with Breakfast & dinner.

Hotel Willowbanks Shimla Rooms Rs. 5,000/- + tax 15.15% per couple per nite with Breakfast Only.

Forests

Sariska Palace: Rs. 20,000/- per couple for 2 nites / 3 days with Breakfast, lunch &; Dinner. 180 k from Delhi, closest place to see a tiger for Delhites

Udai Villas, Bhartpur Rs. 9,000/- per couple for 2 nites / 3 days with breakfast &; Dinner.

Aranya Resorts, Corbett: Superior Room: Rs.10,999/- + tax 15% per couple for 2 nites / 3 days with Breakfast, Lunch ; Dinner.

Camping/Adventure

Kanatal Camps Adventure in the hills, lovely location and lots of activiites

Rishikesh Rafting the ever popular adventure sport with camping, 5 hrs from Delhi.

Camps at Chakrata, a new destination with camping, rafting at the Yamuna and more, about 7 hrs from Delhi.

Camps near Chail family camps with attached toilets with lots of activities.

Shoghi- Aamod and Oakwood Shogi :Mud Cottage Rs. 11,400/- & Bamboo Huts Rs. 9,900/- per couple for 2 nites / 3 days with Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Aamod starts at Rs 16000/- for 2n/3d with bfast

Desert Rajasthan

Jaipur Resorts Enjoy various resorts in and around Jaipur, packages start at Rs 3000/- per night.

Pushkar Enjoy the Ajmer Sharif Dargah and Pushkar temple and surrounding desert, do it through Shatabdi for a comfortable journey.

Jodhpur & Udaipur Plan ahead for stay to see forts of Jodhpur and lakes of Udaipur.

Chomu Palace A heritage deluxe palace close to Jaipur.

For other options log on to www.AroundDelhi.com www.Shimla-Resorts.com www.Mussoorie-Hotels.com

For bookings nd queries call Seema @ 9891458220/ Anand 9811193634

R.Anand, Webmaster and Editor.

Independence Day Weekend Packages

2011-07-18T01:48:00.000-07:00

Also See Monsoon Packages

15th August, Independence Day India.

Long weekends are great for holiday goers and planners alike, while you get a chance to take a break from the daily routine, we holiday planners get a chance to serve you ( and sell a lot of our merchandise). Independence Day Weekend, 13th-15th August 2011 is one such opportunity to some spend some quality time with family or friends or both. While a lot of resorts around Delhi, may already be sold out, some good ones are still available, though I am sure not for long.
Allow me to give you some suggestions for your holiday plans around Delhi. While most plans are for one or two nights you can also take a holiday on 12th,Friday (work and boss permitting) and make it a still more extended weekend.

Around Delhi (within 200k)
Fort Unchagaon (130K) Heritage property situated in a village about 7k from the Ganga, a great place and off beat place to spend a weekend. Packages start at Rs 5000/- per night with bfast.

Sariska Palace

Sariska Palace (190K) Situated next to the Tiger Wild Life Sanctuary (Sanctuary is open on Saturdays during monsoons). Only 2 nights package at Rs 17,000/- for a couple with all meals and various celebration activities.

Shiva Oasis, Behror (130k) Special Independence Day one night and two nights package with gala dinner & drinks, flag hoisting, DJ night etc. Starts at Rs 7500/- per night plus taxes with all meals.

Hans Resorts A lovely resort close to Delhi with good rooms and food with recreational facilities. Normal package starting at Rs 6999/- for a night with all meals.

Kadamb Kunj

Bharatpur -Just 4 hrs from Delhi, can be a good choice for a one night or two. Bharatpur is a lovely bird sanctuary and a quiet place for the weekend. Kadamb Kunj is one of the good resorts with a reasonable package of Rs 7000/- for 2n/3d with bfast.

Hills

Shimla- Hotel Willow Banks Situated right on the Shimla Mall road, this 4 star equivalent hotel boasts of lovely premium rooms with balcony, wooden flooring and valley view along with all modern facilities. Rooms start at Rs 5500/night with breakfast.

Timbertrail Parwanoo

Timbertrail Parwanoo A unique experience of using a Cable Car to reach your resort at a height of 5000ft, just a 5 hrs drive from Delhi. Rooms start at Rs 5600/nite plus taxes with bfast

Naini Retreat, Nainital A heritage hotel just 2 km from the lake with great rooms and food from Leisure Hotels stable.

Royal Orchid Fort Resorts, Mussoorie 800m from the Mall this beautiful resort boast of good rooms along with a lot of recreational facilities and green lawns with huge terrace. Independence Day Packages start at Rs 13000/- + taxes for 2n/3d for a couple.

Chalets Naldehra, A wonderful resort beyond Shimla close to the Golf course. Rooms, cottages and an indoor swimming pool makes it a perfect choice for the hills.

View from Binsar

Kassar Jungle resort, Binsar Binsar, a beautiful off beat hill station affords lovely views of the himalayas and at Kassar you can enjoy other recreational activities.

Annabella Resort, Ranikhet A new resort with beautiful views and good rooms with garden areas. Rooms start at Rs 7555/- for 2n/3d with bf & dinner for a couple

Hill Resort, Naukuchiatal A brand new property overlooking the lake with lovely rooms and a reasonable package starting at Rs 5999/- for 2n/3d with bf & dinner for a couple.

Corbett - Lovely and green resorts, flowing Kosi and Ramganga river, Jungle safari, adventure, treks and a lot more...

Corbett Hideaway

Corbett Hideaway and Corbett River View - Cottages and rooms close to the river with swimming pool, great food, spa and lots of activities to keep the whole family involved.

Infinity Resorts - All rooms facing the Kosi river and a great jungle like environment.

Non Hills Dont' feel like going towards the hills look at these options in the plains.

KK Royal Jaipur- A 4 star resort with lawns swimming pool and other recreational activities, the resort is overlooking the Amer Fort. Package starts at Rs 5999/- for 2n/3d for a couple with bfast.

Rasa Vilas - Deluxe tented accommodation based in 20 acres of forest area near Amer fort. This new property is promoted by the Devi Garh Resort, Udaipur. Package starts at Rs 9999/- for 2n/3d with bfast.

Khajuraho

Khajuraho Enjoy the rains and the lovely stone sculptures of Khajuraho, stay at Radisson or Usha resort to enjoy this long weekend. Package for 2n/3d starts at Rs 5500/- with bfast for a couple.

For bookings and more options log onto www.AroundDelhi.com or call Seema 9891458220/Anand 9811193634.

R.Anand,
Around Delhi

Monsoon Getaways

2011-07-09T00:13:00.000-07:00

It seems that finally the Monsoons are here in Delhi and North India and non too soon you will agree. Monsoon is a great time to explore new places or spend time watching the rain or enjoying the cool breeze at places which are green and close to nature. It is great seeing Raindrops falling on your window or verandah or lawn or....

Around Delhi offers some great getaways where we feel you can enjoy the rains in green environs and yet not too far from Delhi. Click here for special discounted Monsoon Offers from Around Delhi Holidays
What's more you enjoy great discounts and fablous monsoon offers from Around Delhi Holidays.
Sariska is a beautiful jungle area just about 3 hours from Gurgaon and it gets really green and clean due to the rains with wild life too enjoying the downpour after a parched summer. Stay at the Sariska Palace, a heritage property spread over 100 acres of mostly green lawns with not too big build up area.And who knows you might come across a Tiger on your visit to the Jungle Safari. Book Sariska Palace with us and get Jungle Safari free with the 2n package.

Fort Unchagaon near Garh Mukteshwar is just 130k and surrounded by Mango orchards in a village setting very close to the River Ganges. Enjoy this stint of rural tourism in a heritage fort with excellent food and services. Fort Unchagaon also has a swimming pool now. All meals package for a couple starts at Rs 5000/-.

Kikar Lodge near Ropar and Chandigarh is a jungle property with world class facilities and accommodation in tents or cottages with a Spa thrown in. Go for a night safari in this very green surrounding about 5 hours drive from Delhi. Also avail of a 20% discount voucher for your next booking at preferred resorts.
Corbett in rains with it's flowing rivulets, growing rivers and increasing greens adds to the charm of the place. You can also go for rafting, walk in the rains and Jungle safari as one or two Jungle gates are still open. Plus you can enjoy your stay at lovely resorts with all modern facilities at reasonable rates. Choose from any of these resorts at Corbett. Stay for 2 nights at Corbett Hideaway and stay free for one night at Naini Retreat.

And then of course you can head to the hills if you want to enjoy the beautiful & green mountains washed out by the falling rains. Click here for Hill options.
For more options log onto www.AroundDelhi.com or call Seema 9891458220/Anand9811193634.

R.Anand,
Around Delhi

Official Google Blog: The J. Paul Getty Museum collection comes alive with Google Goggles

2011-07-05T05:54:00.000-07:00

Official Google Blog: The J. Paul Getty Museum collection comes alive with Google Goggles

Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google+ project: Real-life sharing, rethought for the web

2011-07-05T05:51:00.000-07:00

Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google+ project: Real-life sharing, rethought for the web

Conference at Goa in the Monsoon Rains

2011-06-27T06:12:00.000-07:00

Ariel View, Majorda Beach Resort Goa

May and June is a very hectic season for us as far as season booking in hills are concerned as it is extremely hot in the plains. This leads to a lot of difficulty to get rooms and also the rates are quiet high. So we planned a conference for one of our clients at Goa during June as it is Monsoon time in Goa and one can get good rates in 4/5 star beach resorts in Goa.
The Conference cum Leisure trip was planned at Majorda Beach Resort in South Goa. Took the evening flight of Spicejet to Goa to reach one day before guest check in. On Landing at Dabolim Airport, Goa pickup vehicle was waiting in a light drizzle and it felt like heaven after the blistering heat of Delhi. After a welcome drink at the reception I was guided to my room, which was centrally air conditioned and felt so cold that I had switch off the A/c soon. There were also the delicious Goa Cashews and port wine waiting in the room, and the wine really set the mood for the evening with it's aroma and taste. I soon joined other guests near the indoor pool where a Goan band was playing along with some great acrobatic display including fire dance and all. The dinner had a wide variety with good taste and a definite Goan flavour.

View From Lounge at Majorda, Goa

Majorda Beach Resort Goa is a 5 star hotel spread in 22 acres and located in South Goa on the beach. It is one of the oldest properties in Goa and shows a mixture of Goan and Portuguese culture. The resort at Majorda boasts of two swimming pools, one indoor and one out doors, spa facilities, Gym, Lawn tennis and Squash in recreation. It has two Conference Halls with the bigger hall catering up to 300 people. The resort is very green with a lot of lawn areas, tall palm trees and green areas doting the place. The resort is very close to the sea and one can view the sea from some of the rooms, though the tall palm trees come in the way. One can just walk to the beach and enjoy the sandy beach, just as we did early next morning before breakfast. The sea is quiet rough during Monsoon and one should be careful not to venture too far into the sea during this season.

Indoor Pool at Majorda

After some fun in the pool and on the beach, it was time for the Conference and we were using the bigger San Rafael with back projection screens with LCD and an AV system. After the lunch it was time for some sight seeing to Old Goa to the famous Churches of Goa including that of Basilica of Bom Jesus, situated in Old Goa and built in 1605, Basilica of Bom Jesus has now been declared a World Heritage Monument. The church houses the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier, patron saint of Goa, who died while on a sea voyage to China. By 6 PM we crossed Panajim for the cruise of River Mandovi with the slight drizzle egging us on. The evening cruise on the river is a One hour trip where the group enjoyed the lovely views and breeze along with some Goan and Portuguese dances to boot. After the cruise people bought some specialities of Goa like the cashew nuts and Port wine and Cashew Fenny from a nearby market. We made our way back to our resort in our bus in the falling rain and reached back in about an hour.

San Rafael Conference Hall

The next day was fully reserved for the conference followed by a DJ party indoors because of heavy rain inside. The Conference Hall was very spacious and made a perfect venue for the discussions and unveiling of some new themes for the Company. Last day after winding up the discussions in the pre lunch session, the group checked out and took flights back to Mumbai and Delhi. Majorda.

Dr. R.Anand

For planning your Conference or Leisure programmes at Goa contact us at Around Delhi,call us at 09811193634/09891458220 or email us at arounddelhi@gmail.com

Also see Goa Airfare packages

Confernece at Kasauli

2011-05-17T06:20:00.000-07:00

Just finished a Conference for a group of Delhi District Court Judges at Victoria Continental near Kasauli. Total of about 120 Judges were hosted and the complete programmed was expertly handled including all transport facilities, stay, conference and trekking etc.

Dr.R.Anand
Resorts at Kasauli
(MY4QM9YC75QN)

Good Friday Long Weekend

2011-04-07T00:40:00.000-07:00

We are fast approaching the long weekend of Good Friday 22nd-24th April 2011, a holiday on Friday makes it convenient to take a well deserved break from one's busy schedule and relax in the hills, forest or some nice resort around Delhi. Not surprisingly many of the resorts are already sold out and rest too are selling like hot cakes. So if you have not booked do it fast to avoid last minute disappointment. Some of the options available for this weekend are as below

Wild Life
Sariska Palace, 4 hrs drive from Delhi, a heritage property based in 100
acres right next to Sariska Tiger Sanctuary.

Corbett, CorbettRiverView and Den Corbett. Corbett is just 6 hrs drive from Delhi and all year round destination plus a great place to watch the wildlife. Also available are
convenient 2/3/4 BR cottages.

Hills

WillowBanks, Shimla, situated on the Mall Road, this beautiful hotel is
conveniently located on the Shimla Mall road and offers 4 star facilities.
Situated near Shimla, Oakwood Shoghi is a great place for some adventure activities in natural surroundings

Ranikhetin Uttaranchal, Rosemount a beautiful heritage property near Nainital.

KassarJungle Resort, near Binsar,
the place to see the snow capped Himalayan peaks.

Sun n Snow, EcoLodge and Mountain Villa at Kausani.

Nainital- Naini Retreat & Shervani Hill Top

Claridges Nabha is a lovely 4 star resort near Mussooire in beautiful and quiet surroundings.

HotelSilver Rock at Mussoorie on the Mall Road Mussoorie.

Adventure

Rishikesh-Rafting & Camping Options Camping on the white sand beaches and rafting on the Ganges.

Chakrata Camps near Dehradun Camps at a cooler place with option of adventure including rafting.

Rajasthan & Around Delhi

Jaipur is fun with it's colourful bazaars, variety of cuisines and various old forts and
havelis. Stay at the KK Royal next to Amberfort or the Pride Amber Vilas, a new
resort in Jaipur based on a Rajasthani village, right opposite the Chokhi Dhani.

ResortCountry Club, Gurgaon,

Tree House near Bhiwadi, is about an hour's drive from Delhi and a beautiful place to enjoy with swimming pool, spa , tennis etc. and great food to boot.

For other options log on to www.AroundDelhi.com

For bookings nd queries call Seema @ 9891458220/ Anand 9811193634

Devi Garh Udaipur

2011-01-06T04:48:00.000-08:00

Devi Garh Udaipur

I was now on last leg of my Rajasthan tour and was to travel by road from Jodhpur to Udaipur. Started early morning from Jodhpur and made good time to reach Devi Garh a luxury resort, made popular by now divorced Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar wedding. The road from Jodhpur to Udaipur is fairly OK except for some bad patches. The usual time taken is about 6 hours.

Arravali Suites

Palace Suites

Devi Garh or Devi resorts as it is also called, is situated about 28k before Udaipur, The fort, surrounded by lush green fields and mountains on three sides, overlooks the village of Delwara, and is close to the temples of Eklingji and Nagda. Devi Garh fort palace with its contemporary interiors set in an 18th century fort palace, has been described as one of the most romantic places on earth, and it surely lives up to that. The lovely fort palace of Devi Garh offers a variety of palace suits each unique in it's own way. The well spread out Palace has been resurrected from almost scratch and now the garden, palace, terrace and the pool has a divine look. I was accompanied for a Palace tour as this was my first visit to the place followed by a sumptuous lunch. The accommodation is all suites with the Devigarh Suite having a private Jacuzzi and a semi private swimming pool,luxury at it's best.

All the palace suites have either balconies or bay windows, which overlook the lush green fields and the mountains which surround Devi Garh. Each suite is accessible through a traditional "aangan" (courtyard) with contemporary design. Each suite is decorated with semi precious stones and is unique in it's own way.

Garden Suites Sitout

The Garden suites at Devi Garh each have their own private lobby, garden and tented terrace, and overlook a vivid rectangular field of flowers. In each of the suites, the decor (based on local green marble) brings the serenity and beauty of the garden inside. A carved marble tree of life surmounts the headboard of the bed, adding to the effect of a garden within the room.

Apart from the suites there is also a lovely spa by L'Occitane presenting a fusion of Indian and Mediterranean well -being treatments

The evening at Devi garh was wonderful with the sun setting and turning the already golden fort more beautiful and paint it in lovely hues of red and gold.
Devi Garh near Udaipur is a lovely place to be for a romantic holiday, a honey moon destination or a family outing. Also a great set up for a high end corporate meeting or training.

Call us for best offers for Devi Garh Udaipur at 09811193634 or email us at arounddelhi@gmail.com.

R.Anand

Already covered Jaipur-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur in Rajasthan itinerary.

Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Rajasthan-road-train-trip

2011-01-01T04:15:00.000-08:00

After some memorable time at Jaisalmer & Sam,Khuri dunes it was time to move on to Jodhpur. Caught the evening train to Jodhpur, Jodhpur's main attractions are the Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace. Mehrangarh fort is situated 400 feet (122 m) above the city, and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. Some of the palaces inside the fort are

Umaid Bhawan Jodhpur

Moti Mahal - The Pearl PalaceBuilt by Raja Sur Singh (1595-1619), the Moti Mahal is the largest of the Mehrangarh Museum's period rooms.

Sheesha Mahal - The Hall Of MirrorsIt is a fine example of a typical Rajput Sheesh Mahal. The mirror-work includes large, regular pieces, rather than an intricate mosaic of tiny fragments; another thing is the superimposition over the mirror-work of brightly painted religious figures made in plaster.

Phool Mahal - The Palace Of Flowers The Phool Mahal was created by Maharaja Abhaya Singh (1724-1749). The grandest of Mehrangarh's period rooms the Phool Mahal was in all likelihood a private and exclusive chamber of pleasure; dancing girls once swooned in exhaustion here under a ceiling rich in gold filigree.

Umaid Bhawan Palace is named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present owners of the palace, this monument has 347 rooms and serves as the principal residence of the erstwhile Jodhpur royal family. Part of the palace has been converted to a hotel and another part has a museum housed in it.

Fort Luni Chanwa

Around Jodhpur- One can visit the Osian temples about 65 km from Jodhpur which are medieval Hindu and Jain temples, like the Shiva temple, Harihara temple and the Surya temple. The temples date back to 8th-11th century. Osian also offers a desert safari and some camping options too. Another place close to Jodhpur-40k, is Luni village where there is a lovely Fort Chanwa worth visiting and staying for one night at least.

The city of Jodhpur is now on the international tourist map and also a big hit with the domestic tourists for leisure and conference. Jodhpur is almost an integral part of your Rajasthan itinerary also because of it's strategic location. I had a wonderful time at Jodhpur in my two days stay.

Next in line was Udaipur, and I had to go by road to Udaipur as Jodhpur to Udaipur has no train connection(strangely).

Dr. R.Anand
For planning your Rajasthan itinerary contact us at Around Delhi,call us at 09811193634/09891458220 or email us at arounddelhi@gmail.com You can also book Jodhpur hotels with us.
Also see Bikaner, Jaisalmer.

Snow fall at Shimla Kufri on New Year eve

2010-12-31T00:21:00.000-08:00

Hotel Willow Banks on the Mall road, Shimla

31st Dec 2010- Shimla gets it's first snow fall of the season. Kufri got a heavy snowfall and is totally covered in a white cover right now. It's been more than 15 years since Shimla turned white on New Year eve. More snow is forecast by the Met department in the forthcoming days. Manali too has been having regular snowfall for the last few days. People can be seen playing with snow at Kufri and even Mall road has a good sprinkling of snow.
Lucky ones are already there in Shimla and Kufri to enjoy this beautiful spectacle, also with most of the schools being closed for winters people are heading for the Shimla hills to spend their holidays.
Plan your snow holidays with us at Around Delhi- Call us for your Shimla hotels booking or Stay at Kufri resorts. Choose from Hotels on Mall Road Shimla like Hotel Willow Banks Shimla or other hotels in Shimla.
As I write this blog news is that it is again snowing at Kufri, so head for the hills friends asap. The Shimla city witnessed intermittent snowfall during the day, while it received about 15 to 20 cm of snow last night. The road to Kufri was blocked for some time due to heavy snow. The NY festivities have started at most places in Shimla with music, live band and bon fires at many places. Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, joined the festive crowd by taking a stroll of the The Mall Shimla, greeting local people and tourists for the New Year.

Dont' worry if you were not there on NY eve, catch a train or take out you car and head towards Shimla or Kufri to view this beautiful spectacle.

Manali area is having almost continuous rain and snow since last evening.

For bookings call us at 09811193634/09891458220 or email us at arounddelhi@gmail.com
R.Anand

Jaisalmer-Sam-Khuri-sand-dunes-tour

2010-12-16T08:19:00.000-08:00

Camps at Sam

After staying at Jaisalmer I planned to visit the famous and popular dunes of Sam and Khuri the next day of my Rajasthan desert safari trip. One can find desert sand dunes on two sides of Jaisalmer at Khuri and Sam, both about 40k. Both are in opposite directions and you can go to either of them. I planned to stay at luxury tents at Sam overnite and visit the Khuri dunes next morning just to compare the two.

Started from Jaisalmer after lunch in a Jeep, the road was fantastic as it is used by the Army to cover the Indo-Pakistan border areas. The first view of the dunes was totally mesmerising as it brought back memories of the desert as seen in Bollywood movies. The place was really abuzz with tourists, transferred to a Camel for a safari and seeing the sunset from a vantage point in the desert. The sunset was truly amazing as one could clearly see the ball of fire disappear all the way below the horizon. After the safari reached my abode for the night, the deluxe tents where I planned to stay the night. The tent was quiet spacious with two bed,chairs,table and still some space to move around. It also had electricity and an attached bathroom and English toilet with running water. Most important, the tents and the whole area was quiet clean inspite of a lot of sand around. After some light snacks and tea there were some great traditional Rajasthani songs and dances, the local artists were just amazing reminding me of Swaroop of Indian idol. The night was cold in the desert but the tents were quiet cosy. I really had a good night's sleep and planned to do another Camel Safari as it was much quieter now and very less people. The morning freshness of the dunes set the tone of the day. The tents had a small bathroom where hot water was also provided,didn't feel like we were in middle of a desert. After a hearty breakfast it was time to move on back to Jasialmer.

After reaching Jaisalmer the next stop was the dunes of Khuri as I wanted to compare Khuri and Sam dunes as I had to leave post lunch from Jaisalmer. The dunes of Khuri are located next to the Desert National Park which is know for the endangered Great Indian Bustard, a magnificent bird found in relatively fair numbers here. The Desert National Park also has a collection of fossils of animals and plants of 180 million years old. Some fossils of Dinosaurs of 6 million years old have been found in the area. Khuri is a small village of Hindu settlers with fairly good dunes nearby. Khuri has developed later than Sam so it is less crowded here, also one of the camps I visited is away from the village and the dunes are almost to your own even in the evening, that was the best part about these camps near Khuri. The tents are simillar with attached toilets and bathroom. I concluded that though Sam dunes were bigger but you can have less crowded dunes at Khuri.

I hurried back to Jaisalmer to have lunch and then catch my train to Jodhpur for my next leg of the journey.
Next- Jodhpur
Dr. R.Anand

Also see Bikaner trip, Jaisalmer Attractions , Udaipur Devigarh.

Delhi-Jaipur-trip-with-adventure-activities

2010-12-14T05:07:00.000-08:00

Reached Rajasthan today.Am at Jaipur with a group. Stay was at Gold Palace.
Here is the itinerary for Jaipur corporate trip

Reached Gold Palace at 7 AM
Breakfast at the resort
Moved to camps nearby by bus for adventure activities.

The total group of about 60 people enjoyed a fun day with lot of activities like
Spider net crawling, tyre wall climbing, Burma and triangular bridge crossing,
artificial river crossing, obstacle courses, Tarzan swing and climbing on Fiber glass wall.
After a hearty lunch at the camp the group had a game of cricket in the lush green lawns.
On the way back some of the group members visited Amber fort which is closeby,

Returned to the resort and in the evening and everybody enjoyed Evening DJ with cocktail snacks and drinks in the lawns. After a late dinner the group hit the bed to wake up to a hearty and refreshing breakfast. People took a dip in the pool or went for a walk in the lawns, some of them enjoyed TT,snooker and group games in the lawns.After some official meeting in the Conference hall the group departed to Delhi after a satisfying and fun stay.

While the group returned to Delhi, I prepared for the next leg of my Rajasthan Desert safari trip covering Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur. Follow my Rajasthan trip.

Dr. R.Anand

Please contact us for a simillar itinerary for Jaipur, Rajasthan including adventure activities and other fun activities or even a conference. Call us at 9811193634/9891458220 or email us at arounddelhi@gmail.com
For other options around Delhi and Jaipur click here.

Delhi-Bikaner-Jaisalmer-trip

2010-12-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

Continuing my trip of Rajasthan (See Jaipur-Bikaner trip) I caught a night train to Jaisalmer to reach early morning at the station. The only problem was that there is no A/c class available and one can only travel in 2nd Sleeper. One can also do Bikaner-Jaisalmer by road and a distance of about 240k can be covered in around 4 hours. I was booked at Hotel Jaisalgarh and was fortunate to get a room early in the morning.

Jasialmer Fort

Nathmal Haveli

Jaisalgarh is a nice modern hotel with lawns, swimming pool and nice clean rooms. It is about 2 km from Jaisalmer Fort or the Sonar Quilla as it is called, the second oldest fort in Rajasthan. Two hundred and fifty feet tall and reinforced by imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet high; it has 99 bastions, 92 of which were built between 1633 and 1647. Wells within the fort still provide a regular source of water. Even today, you will find that nearly one fourth of the old city's population resides within the fort. The fort imposes upon the whole of Jaisalmer and definitely worth a visit. Jasialmer city as a whole gives you that golden look with a lot of buildings using the local yellow stone at the facade and even the floors etc. It is a small city easily covered even on an auto. The old city is quiet crowded and apart from the Fort one can see the various Havelis like Salim ji ki haveli, Patwon ki haveli and Nathmal ji ki haveli. The havelis are known for it's minute carvings, murals and gold and silver embroidery.

Other places one can visit around Jaisalmer are Gadsisar lake,a famous picnic spot in the sandy city, is among the most beautiful tourist attractions in Jaisalmer. It attracts hundreds of migratory birds during the winter season. An evening spend near the lake around Sunset time is really enchanting. About 15 km from Jaisalmer is the Akal Wood Fossil Park,where stood a forest 180 millions years ago. Then the area submersed in to the sea and the tree trunks got preserved in the form of fossils. Covering about 10 sq. Km of bare hillside, the Fossil Park contains 25 petrified trunks, in total.One can also visit Lodurwa, the ancient Jain temples or Kuldara village an architectural wonder of the medieval times. Jaisalmer town needs at least one full day to have a good look at it's tourist attractions. I have specifically not mentioned the sand dunes of Sam and Khuri, the major tourist attraction near Jaisalmer as I will be covering them in my next write up.
Dr. R.Anand
For booking of Rajasthan itinerary including Jaisalmer Call us at 9811193634/9891458220 or email us at arounddelhi@gmail.com . You can also book Jaisalmer Hotels and Camps with us.
Also see Jaisalmer-Jodhpur leg and Udaipur trip.

Rajasthan-train-road-trip-Delhi-Jaipur-Bikaner

2010-12-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

I had been planning to take a trip to Rajasthan for a long time, but Anaesthesia and AroundDelhi had me in their grip and did not let go. Finally post Diwali mid Nov 2010 I was able to make it and started with a train trip from Jaipur to Bikaner, took train no 0234 at to reach Bikaner early morning. You can also reach Bikaner directly from Delhi via Rajasthan Sampark Kranti overnite journey(10 hrs), via road one can reach Bikaner via Mandawa, Jhunjhunu. I was to catch a train to Jaisalmer in the night so I knew it was going to be a hectic day, I took up a retiring room to save time and was ready in time to have a tour of Bikaner and see some accommodation options too. The first stop was the Junagarh fort, this fort was built by Raja Rai Singhji, the sixth ruler of Bikaner, who ruled form 1571 to 1612 AD. Raja Rai Singhji could Marshal the revenues of a Kingdom increased by the conquest of half Marwar and grant of half Gujrat and made use of ample funds from Jodhpur and Western Deccan for the construction of this fort.

Junagarh Fort

Map of Bikaner The important portions of the old palaces in a sequence of visit are Harmandir, Tetis Crore Devi-Devtaon-Ka-Mandir (in this tepmple nearly 700 precious Bronze idols are stored that were brought by the tenth rules Maharaja Anup Singhji from Deccan), Mina Deodhi, Karan Mahal and its Courtyard , Kunwar Pada Mahal, Anup Mahal Courtyard, Phool Mahal ki Sal, Chander Mahal, Rai Niwas Katchery, Anup Mahal, Sardar Niwas (Badal Mahal), Sur Mandir Chaubara, Gaj Mandir Courtyard, Gaj Mandir, Chattar Niwas, Dungar Niwas, Lal Niwas, Ganga Niwas Mahal and Ganga Niwas Durbar Hall, Maharaja Ganga Sinhgji's study room and Vikram Vilas Durbar hall.

Karni Mata Mandir

Next stop was the Karni Mata Temple, it is 30 Km south from Bikaner on the road of Jodhpur, at Deshnok who is worshiped as an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple is unique as the rats called Kabas, are venerated here and the shrine is a sanctuary for them. It is believed that these Kabas carry souls of future Charans/bards (children of the goddess) who inhabit the town of Deshnok. The temple has fascinating huge silver gates and marble carvings. The most attractive feature of temple are the rodents who scamper freely within the premises and if one touches your feet its considered auspicious. They are regarded sacred and devotees buy prasad (feeding) to offer to them.

Gajner Palace

Also about 30 km from Bikaner on the way to Jaisalmer is Gajner wild life sanctuary.The lush foliage of the woods here have a number of neelgais(blue bull), waterfowls, chinkara (black buck), particularly flocks of imperial sandgrouse and wild boar living here.It is considered as the prettiest place in the region, with a lake, a palace, wooded hills and gardens. The lake at Gajner attracts water birds in thousands, the imperial sand grouse from Siberia being the most important of these. Large herds of deers can be seen here grazing freely. One can stay at Gajner Palace right at the sanctuary. Though I could not see the Camel breeding farm near Bikaner but it is definitely worth a visit. There are also sand dunes near Bikaner,like Jaisalmer and one can spend an evening at the dunes with a camel Safari or stay overnite at the camps.

So Bikaner is definitely worth including in your Rajasthan Itinerary.

Contact us at Around Delhi Holidays for planning a trip to Bikaner and Rajasthan. Bikaner itinerary Bikaner Hotels

Call us at 9811193634/9891458220 or email us at arounddelhi@gmail.com

Dr.R.Anand

(Coming next- Jaisalmer trip with Sam and Khuri dunes.)

Goa Pacakges with Airfare Delhi Goa Delhi

2010-10-22T23:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Around Delhi Holidays presents best rates for Goa Resorts and Hotel packages for 2012 ranging from 3 to 5 star properties. The links to the Goa Resorts give you info about the resort location in Goa and the facilities etc. We also present Air fare packages for Delhi-Goa-Delhi and also Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai.

Goa boasts of a long coast line and rightfully so, a vast number of serene white sand beaches dot the coasts of Goa making the life line of tourism in Goa. Except for the Monsoons Goa beaches and quiet and smooth, not rough as at some other coasts in South India. During Season October to March these beaches get dotted by various shacks selling all kinds of stuff from beer to sea food to traditional costumes etc. Some beaches are more popular with the tourists depending on the attractions they offer while some Goa beaches may still be quiet and lonesome even at height of tourist activity, so you may take your pick depending on what kind of holiday you are looking at.

Airfare Packages -GOA 3N/4D per person

Hotel Name	Validity	Meal Plan	Ex. Delhi	Ex. Mumbai
Majorda Goa (5*)	Till 31st May 2012	AP	20000	18900
Holiday Inn (5*)	Till 31st May 2012	AP	19900	17700
Baywatch Resort (4*)	Till 31st May 2012	AP	16500	13300
Taj Fort Aguada (5*)	Till 31st May 2012	AP	22500	15000
Holiday Inn Goa (5*)	Till 31st May 2012	AP	23999	21500
Calangute Grande (3*)	Till 31st May 2012	AP	16000	14500
Jewel Inn Resort & Spa (3*)	Till 31st May 2012	AP	15999	13500
Paradise Village 3*	Till 31st May 2012	AP	14999	11500
Peninsula Beach RESORT 2*	Till 31st May 2012	AP	14499	10999

Common Inclusions
: # Return airfare including airport taxes.
# Airport / respective railway station transfers.
# AP-Meals Bf,lunch,dinner.
# 01 day sightseeing followed by boat cruise on river Mandovi (except Leela).
Rates are Per person (Service tax extra)

Note: Other hotels and resorts are also available from time to time.

Also See- Beaches of Goa, Goa Attractions

For queries call Anand 9811193634/Seema 9891458220 or

send us an email - arounddelhi@gmail.com

R.Anand

Honeymoon Destinations India

2010-07-31T02:18:00.000-07:00

India offers a plethora of honeymoon destinations & spots and the newly wed honeymoon couples may find it confusing to choose from various options of honeymoon places in India. In an effort to help you choose a top and favourite honeymoon destination, we have tried to breakup the options into various categories and give the pros and cons of each honeymoon destinations. Here are some great ideas for an enjoyable honeymoon in North, South or any where in India.

Hills Honeymoon Spots India- Hills with their natural beauty, cool weather and great choice of accommodation options makes for a great place to spend the honeymoon for the newly wed couple. Another factor going for the hills is that you can get great deals in the off season period. Some of the top Honeymoon Hill Stations are

Shimla Manali

Shimla Region including Chail,Kasauli,Kufri

Uttranchal Tour covering Nainital, Ranikhet, Binsar etc.

Kashmir Honymoon Tour

Dalhousie Dharamshala Honeymoon Tour

Ooty Honeymoon Trip

Best time to go- Any time of the year

India Beach Honeymoon options- White Sands, blue seas, romantic setup by the beach and lovely cool sea breeze in your hail, what can be better than a honeymoon at the beach.

Goa Beach Holidays

Kerala Beach, House boat and the backwaters.

Best time to go- October to March

Rajasthan Royal Honeymoon Options Having your wedding during winters adds another destination for your Honeymoon trip-Havelis and Palaces of Rajasthan. Spend the first few days of your blissful marriage like royalty-King and Queen of an empire. Explore the Pink City Jaipur, or the sand dunes of Jaisalmer, lakes of Udaipur or the fort of Jodhpur or temples of Bikaner, Eklingi or Mount Abu.

Best time to go- October to March

Indian Wildlife Honeymoon options Couples trying to have a different experience on their honeymoon trip can try a Wild Life destination and share the thrills of watching some great wildlife together. Some of the best options are

Corbett

Sariska

Ranthambhore

Kanha

Gir

Kaziranga

Religious Honeymoon Options in India A very popular option with most Indian newly weds the first trip of the new couple is to take the blessings of the God to a famous religious shrine. Usually this is combined with another popular destination mentioned above.

Favourite Religious Destinations for Honeymooners

Vaishnodevi Katra

Amritsar

Puri

Shirdi

Tirupati

Some tips before you choose your Honeymoon destination

The couple should discuss the honeymoon destination before marriage possible and come to a consensus for the place they plan to visit.

Also discuss the budget you are planning to spend and the kind of hotels/resorts you plan to stay.

Always research and book your trip in advance because can not take the risk of searching for place to stay at your destination.

If you are not travelling by your own vehicle book the train/air tickets in advance and also book the required vehicle for pickup/sightseeing etc. in advance.

Don't make it too hectic by lot of travelling, remember you have come here for relaxing and understanding each other on the honeymoon.

You can book your Honeymoon trip in India through Around Delhi Holidays.Call Anand 09811193634/Seema 09891458220 or mail us at arounddelhi@gmail.com

R.Anand,

Editor

Leh Ladakh Packages Delhi-Leh air fare packages

2010-03-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

Leh Ladhakh is emerging as a new off beat destination during Summers for Indian tourists. One can travel by road via Manali or Srinagar or take a flight from Delhi to reach Leh.

(Special rate for 5n/6d fixed departures Rs 18555/- with all meals and transfers with airfare)

Suggestive Itinerary for Leh Ladakh Tour.(2012-13) Delhi-Leh-Delhi with airfare.
Price- Rs 22,222/- per person(minimum 10 people travelling)

Route: Delhi - Leh – Alchi – Lamayuru – Chang La – Pangong Tso - Khardung La - Nubra Valley – Leh -

Delhi

Duration: 07 days

Day 1: Delhi - Leh

On arrival at the Leh Airport, you will be received by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Complete day at your own leisure. In the evening, visit Namgyal Palace & Shanti Stupa. Later, you may want

to take a stroll around the Main Bazaar. O/N Leh

Day 2: Leh – Alchi – Lamayuru – Alchi

After breakfast, depart for the beautiful village of Alchi. Enroute visit Pathar Sahib Gurudwara and Hall of

Fame Museum. On arrival, check in to your hotel for lunch. Post lunch, drive to Lamayuru and visit the old

monastery and return back to Alchi. O/N Alchi

Day 3: Alchi – Leh

After breakfast, time for optional rafting at extra cost. Depart for Leh, check in to your hotel and relax for

the evening. Option to take a stroll around the town. O/N Leh

Day 4: Leh – Pangong Tso - Leh

After breakfast, leave for Pangong Lake at 14, 500 ft. via Chang La (17,350 ft. third highest motorable road

in the world.) Reach Pangong Lake, the highest salt water lake in the world, shared by two countries:

India (25%) and China (75%). Enjoy the beauty of the lake while appreciating the changing colours of its

fascinating waters. Post Lunch, leave for Leh. Evening at your own leisure. O/N Leh

Day 5: Leh – Khardung La - Nubra Valley

After breakfast, drive for Khardung La (the world’s highest motorable road at 18380 ft.) Drive further to the

high altitude desert with sand dunes in Nubra Valley. O/N Nubra (Sumur / Hunder)

Day 6: Nubra Valley – Leh

After breakfast, enjoy the double hump camel ride in the sand dunes! Depart back for Leh via Diskit

Monastery. Visit monasteries like Shey, Thiksey, Hemis and return to Leh. Evening at your own leisure. O/N

Leh

Day 7: Leh – Delhi

After breakfast, board the flight back to Delhi. Trip ends

Price Includes:
- Delhi – Leh – Delhi return airfare!
- Accommodation on twin sharing Basis as per Package Selected
- All Meals (Breakfast, Hot / Pack Lunch, Dinner) on AP Basis as mentioned
- To & Fro Airport Transfers
- Exclusive Chauffeured Vehicle
- Inner line Permits
- All other required permits

Price Does Not Include:
- 2.58% Service Tax
- Any Kind of Personal Expenses or Optional Tours / Extra Meals Ordered
- Rafting Charges
- Any entry fees
- Any transit in Delhi
- Anything not specifically mentioned under the head “Price includes”
- Tips, Insurance, Laundry, Phone Calls
- Any Kind of Drinks (Alcoholic, Mineral, Aerated)
- Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary / stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather,
ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control

Also available 5n/6d with above inclusions without airfare at Rs 12,999/- per person (min 6 pax travelling) (2012-13 season)

Customised packages for higher or lower nights also available. Accommodation also available in 4 star & 5 star Hotel Grand Dragon starting at Rs 29,000/- for 5n/6d per person(Taxes extra)

For queries call Anand 9811193634/Seema 9891458220 or end us an email @ arounddelhi@gmail.com.

R.Anand

Holi Weekend 2010 near Delhi

2010-02-22T01:04:00.000-08:00

Holi is celebrated in India since time immemorial but the popularity of Holi celebrations seems to be rising with every passing year and so is the level of hoo-ha. As no other festival gives so much liberty to the people to let their hair loose and enjoy their hidden crazy self. Planning to celebrate a quiet weekend near or around Delhi as Holi is falling on a Monday and you can start on Saturday or Sunday and be back on Monday in the evening. Here are the options where rooms are still available.

Sariska-Sariska Palace, 4 hrs drive from Delhi, a heritage property based in 100

acres right next to Sariska Tiger Sanctuary.

WillowBanks, Shimla, situated on the Mall Road, this beautiful hotel is
conveniently located on the Shimla Mall road and offers 4 star facilities.

CorbettRiverView and Ramganga Corbett is just 6 hrs drive from Delhi and all year round
destination plus a great place to watch the wildlife. Also available are
convenient 2/3/4 BR cottages.

Jaipur is fun with it's colourful bazaars, variety of cuisines and various old forts and
havelis. Stay at the KK Royal next to Amberfort or the Pride Amber Vilas, a new
resort in Jaipur based on a Rajasthani village, right opposite the Chokhi Dhani.

Situated near Shimla, Oakwood Shoghi is a great place for some adventure activities in natural surroundings.

Claridges Nabha is a lovely 4 star resort near Mussooire in beautiful and quiet surroundings.

HotelSilver Rock at Mussoorie on the Mall Road Mussoorie,

ResortCountry Club, Gurgaon, a beautiful resort 50 km from Delhi.

Fort Unchagaon, 130 km from Delhi in an Village setting is a heritage resort, 7km from the river Ganges.

For other options log on to www.AroundDelhi.com

For bookings nd queries call Seema @ 9891458220/ Anand 9811193634

R.Anand

Kikar Lodge near Chandigarh

2010-02-01T05:11:00.000-08:00

Did a conference for a client at Kikar Lodge near Chandigarh(70k, 300k from Delhi). We started on Wednesday night on a Volvo having fears of the North India fog in our hearts. The journey was quiet smooth till Ambala and we made good time, after that a stretch of about 10k brought our heart in our mouth. On that day I realized what is "zero" visibility in actual terms, nothing was visible, not even the white lines in the middle of the road till you were on them. And the outside temperature must be close to 2-3 deg C, slowly we crawled at 10-15k speed and heaved a sigh of relief as it cleared up. Still we were ahead of time and reached Chandigarh in about 4 hrs, Volvo does make good time on the road and the journey is jerk free. Kikar Lodge is a jungle resort beyond Ropar away from all habitation, we reached in about 2 hrs from Chandigarh. One has to make it's way first though a small village and then a kucha track to reach Kikar Lodge. The first impression if of beautiful cottages in a green setup with small hills all around, the set up is just perfect and you can smell the freshness in the air. The resort gives you a jungle feel at the same time giving you comfortable and luxurious stay. As it is not big, only 30 tents and cottages, it can never get too crowded. After a hearty breakfast the group went into the conference we planned to explore the resort and the surrounding areas.

There is a lot you can do at Kikar Lodge, go for the spa treatment by trained staff, sauna and steam treatment, dip in any of the two big sized pools, read some thing in the quaint little library or play a game of ping pong or pool. For adventure seekers there are soft treks all around, trek to the famous Kikar tree, a small trek up the hill and you are rewarded with a beautiful view a the top. Go for quad biking or rock climbing or obstacle course, there is also a night safari in the surrounding jungle area. For foodies there are ample amount of thing available in the buffet or order ala carte plus of course a well stocker bar. Kikar Lodge turns out to be a perfect place for conferences as it is quiet, has a good conference hall and even lawns can be used for a discussion. Similarly, it is also suitable for training programmes and all with great outdoors. For young couples and families it is quiet, luxurious, close to nature and offers a lot to do, plus it is not too far, you can easily make it in about 6 hrs from Delhi. Last day of the stay, the group planned to prepare a jungle lunch on their own with a little help from us at Around Delhi and the resort. In the end it turned out to be a great outing for the group which I am sure they will cherish for a long tome to come.

For bookings call us at Around Delhi Holidays @9811193634/9891458220 or log onto our website www.AroundDelhi.com.

R.Anand

Other holiday options around Chandigarh

Delhi Jaipur Conference Tour

2010-01-25T02:27:00.000-08:00

On a foggy Thursday morning in Janauray 2010 we started in two 45 seaters Volvo for Jaipur for a conference of about 100 people, some people were directly flying to Jaipur. The programme was already running late by an hour because of the dense fog and huge traffic on the NH8-the Delhi Jaipur Highway when we reached the new resort called Park Ridge at Rewari. This new resort on Delhi-Jaipur highway has got about 40 rooms with a swimming pool,lawns,bowling alley,pool table and a conference hall, ideal for a leisure or training programme or also for a short weekend getaway. After a quick breakfast we were off again, it was almost 12 noon, but still no sign of the sun as of now. As we entered Rajasthan, the Surya Devta made the first appearance of the day and soon it was bright sunshine, a reminder that we were in the vibrant Rajasthan. Rest of the trip to Jaipur was also not very smooth as the highway is being expanded to 6-8 lanes and there was a traffic jam at Behror and Kotputli.

We were staying at two resorts just before Jaipur(due to non availability of rooms at one place), Gold Palace and KK Royal. Both of these are good resorts with a lot of open green lawns and good accommodation, Gold Palace is 3 star while KK Royal is a 4 star resort. Both have a conference hall, deluxe rooms,bar,swimming pool,gym and more. The conference was at Gold Palace with a big hall that could easily take 100 people in round table. Sadly it was a dry day at Jaipur cos of Panchayat elections so no cocktail party for the group. Instead we took them to Chokhi Dhani for the evening village programme and Rajasthani Dinner. Chokhi Dhani has become a must see for most visitors to Jaipur for it's recreation of a complete Rajasthani village with the choupal, village well,camel rides,folk dances, magic shows,astrologer and so on and culminating into a Rasjasthani dinner where you can not come before you have your tummy full upto the throat.

Next day again it was a hectic conference day and in the evening we took the guest to see the Amer fort just next to the KK Royal. Like the entire fort complex, Amber Fort is also constructed of white and red sandstone. Amber Fort is located in Amber (Jaipur), which used to be the capital of the Kachhwaha clan, till Jaipur was made the official capital in 1727. The Amber Fort looks stunning, all-built in white marble and red sandstone.The Fort is unique in that its

outside, an imposing and rugged defensive structure, is markedly different from its inside, an ornate, lavish interior influenced by both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) styles of ornamentation. The walls of the interior of the fort are covered with murals, frescoes, and paintings depicting various scenes from daily life. Other walls are covered with intricate carvings, mosaic, and minute mirror work. The fort is definitely worth a visit if you are in Jaipur. The weather too was just perfect and sunny in the day and cool in the evenings. A new son-et-lumière(Sound & Light show has been launched at Amber Fort, Jaipur. Through this Son-et- lumière spectacle, an attempt has been made to revive the pride of Amber, bring forth the traditions that coloured the lives of its people, the pomp that once existed in its fullest form and to end the silence that had long fallen. The spirit of Amber is eternal. This musical extravaganza has highlighted the local legends, folklore, and a connoisseur of folk music that continues to give Rajasthan its unique identity. The show has been set in a very exotic location, with the giant panoramic view of the Amber Fort & Palace Complex in the front, the rising Jaigarh on the left, the hills at the back and the gallery itself in the Kesar Kiyari Complex. The show starts at 6:30 PM in Hindi and 7:30PM in Hindi daily and is really worth a dekho.

Last day it was all fun with some cricket, tambola and group games in the sun, started back for Delhi after lunch and reached Delhi by 10:30PM. Jaipur is perfect destination for a Conference, leisure trip or a family trip in winters being easily accessible.

For bookings call us at Around Delhi Holidays @9811193634/9891458220 or log onto our website www.AroundDelhi.com

R.Anand

Mahakumbh Haridwar 2010

2010-01-15T01:58:00.000-08:00

To commemorate the holy event of the Amrita Kalasha, recovered from Samudramanthan being put at 4 places, Kumbh is celebrated every 12 years. According to other Pauranic legends, actual fight took place between Devtas and Asuras resulting in the Amrita Kalash being knocked, out of which Amrita (Nectar) fell down at 4 places, namely Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik. The Kumh is celebrated by bathing in the holy Ganges by millions of Hindus at the above sites. Haridwar is the nearest place in North India for Kumbh snan of 2010.

There are various ghats where the snan can take place including Har Ki Paudi, Subhash Ghat and Gau ghat.

Although one can visit Haridwar on any of the dates, some auspicious dates are

January 14, 2010 (Thursday) Makar Sankranti Snan First Snan (bath)

January 15, 2010 (Friday) Mauni Amavasya and Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) Second Snan (bath)

January 20, 2010 (Wednesday) Basant Panchmi Snan Third Snan (bath)

January 30, 2010 (Saturday) Magh Purnima Snan Fourth Snan (bath)

February 12, 2010 (Friday) Maha Shivratri ratham Shahi Snan (First Royal Bath)

March 15, 2010 (Monday) Somvati Amavasya Dvitya Shahi Snan (Second Royal Bath)

March 16, (Tuesday) Nvasamvatsar Snan Fifth Snan (bath)

March 24, 2010 (Wednesday) Rama Navami Sixth Snan (bath)

March 30, 2010 (Tuesday) Chaitra Purnima/Vasishnav Akhara Snan Seventh Snan (bath)

April 14, 2010 (Wednesday) Baisakhi Pramukh Shahi Snan (Main Royal Bath)

April 28, 2010 (Wednesday) Vaishakh Adimasaha Purnima Snan for the Vairagis/Bairagis (Fourth Royal Bath)

Where to stay- Haridwar offers various deluxe hotels accommodation apart from Various dharamshals etc. Some of the deluxe hotels include Haveli hari Ganga near Har Ki Pauri, Country Inns between Haridwar & Rishikesh. We can also provide you standard to Superior tents with attached toilets,bathrooms and 24 hour running hot and cold water and also private bathing ghats.

Rates for the camps

Special Offers- The Mahakumbh Camp

Mahakumbh Camps at Lahore House Private Bathing Ghat exclusively for The Camp guests
Category of Tents	*13^th Jan’2010-14^th April’2010( for non bathing dates)	*Rates for bathing dates Jan-14^th-17^th ,20^th , 30^th , 31^st Feb-12^th ,13^th ,14^th Mar- 13^th-16^th ,24^th ,29^th &30^th April- 9^th -15^th )	No. of Persons	Plan
Superior	Rs. 8500	Rs. 10000	2	All Meals
Mahakumbh Camps near Mela Ground & Bairagi Camps
Deluxe	Rs.6000	Rs. 7500	2	(All Meals)
Superior	Rs. 7500	Rs. 9000	2	(All Meals)
Standard	Rs. 2000	not valid for bathing dates	2	(bf only)
Deluxe	Rs. 4000	not valid for bathing dates	2	bfast only)
Superior	Rs. 5000	not valid for bathing dates	2	(bfast only)

Safari Supplement – Rajaji National Park: INR 2500 per 4WD Jeep (max 4 pax)

Escort / Guide Supplements – INR 1500 per day (max 4 pax)

The Special Offer includes:

·         Traditional Tika Welcome with Wet Towel and Welcome Drink
·         Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with unlimited Tea Coffee in the Lounge
·         Escorted walks twice during day to the special events of Maha Kumbh
·         Guided visits to the shrine
·         Escorted walk to the exclusive private bathing ghat for The Camp guests
·         Enchanting Cultural Evenings with Folk Dances
·         Bhajan and Kirtan every day
·         Special arrangement to organize private Srimad Bhagwat Katha

** Terms & Conditions Apply- Standard tents not available for bathing dates, only all meals packages available for bathing dates as specified.

For booking of camps and hotels at Haridwar contact us at 9811193634/9891458220 or email us at arounddelhi@gmail.com .

Rakesh Anand.
Travel Options around Delhi

Xmas New Year Packages Around Delhi 2012

2009-11-28T03:04:00.000-08:00

22It's that time of the year, when it's time to say 'Good Bye' to the 'Year' itself. Another year comes to an end and all of us prepare to usher in the 'New Year 2012'. Around Delhi offers you various options to do so at resorts in North India. All the resorts have special packages for New Year and some for X-Mas too.
Click on the Resort name for more information about the resorts.
Around Delhi
Sariska Palace is 180 km from Delhi and close to Sariska Tiger Sanctuary, an easy 4 hrs drive from Delhi. Enjoy the New Year with a package of 23,000 for 2 Nites/3Days all meals package with gala dinner with drinks on 31st nite with lots of activities like folk music & dance, DJ, magic show and more.

Shiva Oasis, Behror 2 hours drive from Delhi on Delhi-Jaipur highway, a beautiful resort with a lot of green open areas. Package starts from Rs.9999/- for1n/2d with all meals, snacks, drinks, Rajasthani theme dinner etc. 2n/3d Package start at Rs 14999/- for a couple(taxes extra)
Fort Unchagaon, a heritage property about 130k from Delhi offers an all inclusive package with all meals, snacks, drinks, celebrations etc. starting at Rs 15,200/- + taxes

Hans resort, just 70k from Delhi, Package starts at Rs 9000/- + taxes for a night with all meals,snacks & drinks.

Radisson Agra, Rs 16000/- for 1n/2d with bf & gala dinner for a couple.

Contact Seema 0-9891458220/ Anand 0-9811193634(10 AM-8PM)/ EMAIL us for bookings and packages.

Wild Life
The Den, Corbett about 6-7 hrs drive from Delhi with a lovely green setting and very reasonable package and nice cottages. Packages start Rs. 24000/- for 2 Nites / 3 Days for a couple with all meal, Live music, unlimited drinks etc.
Ramganga Corbett is set amidst hills on one side and flowing Ramganga river on the other. The valley some times just explodes with the roar of the tiger in the night. Packages start from Rs 17,500/- for 2 Nites /3 Days with all meals, jungle safari, unlimited snacks and drinks.
Corbett Hideaway Lots of celebrations, games, all meals, jungle safari, snacks, drinks and stay in deluxe cottages. Package Rs 36,000/- for 2n/3d for a couple. Xmas package starts at Rs 27,000/-
Kadamb Kunj Bharatpur 4 hrs drive from Delhi. Package Rs 13,500/-includes all meals for 2n/3d for a couple with gala dinner,DJ,folk dance and more.

Ranthambhore Forest Resort Tiger viewing at it's best along with NY celebrations. Pay only a supplement of 600/- per person for the NY with Gala Dinner and DJ.

Contact Seema 0-9891458220/ Anand 0-9811193634(10 AM-8PM)/ EMAIL us for bookings and packages.

Hills
Hotel Willowbanks on the Mall, Shimla NY packages start at Rs 19000/- for 2n/3d with bf, dinner ,gala dinner,snacks, drinks & live band on 31st Dec.
Kassar Jungle Resort, Binsar: Kassar Jungle resort is situated on the Almora-Binsar Road and a more modern resort with all the amenities in the lap of nature. Economical New Year package of Rs 14,999/- for 2 Nites /3 Days with Bed Tea, Breakfast and Dinner for a couple, gala dinner with snacks on 31st nite and DJ.
Destination Kandaghat, a beautiful resort 30 km before Shimla is a beautiful resort with large open areas, lovely landscaping and flowers. A lovely place to spend Xmas or NY weekend. Package starts at Rs 15,500/- for Xmas and Rs 25,000/- for New Year

Kufri Resorts, 3nights package starts at Rs 26000/- for a couple
Jungle Retreat, Chail A beautiful resort in Chail near Shimla, packages start from Rs 26000/- for 2n/3d with all meals and lots of competitions, gala dinner, DJ nite, fireworks etc.
Country Inn, Bhimtal Xmas packages start at Rs 17,999/- and NY at Rs 24,999/-with all meals, drinks, snacks, celebrations etc.

Fort Resorts, Mussoorie Package starts at Rs 13000/- for a couple + NY supplement for 2n/3d.

Claridges Nabha, Mussoorie A nice and cosy resort offers package starting Rs. 25,500/- for a couple and Rs 24,499/- for a family of 2+2.
For more options in the Hills click here

Rajasthan
Gold Palace, Jaipur All inclusive package for a couple starts at Rs 23,000/-
KK Royal, Jaipur Package starts at Rs 15,500/- plus NY supplement with Gala Dinner in 2n/3d package.

Country Inns & Suits, Ajmer, a 4 star property near Pushkar, value for money package at Rs 12000/- for 2n/3d with bfast & gala dinner.

Chokhi Dhani, Jaipur Ethnic Village resort near Jaipur offers New Year packages starting Rs 24,999/- + taxes.

Udai Vilas, Mandawa, situated in Shekhawati region, the place famous for the painted havelis of Rajasthan. Located about 270k from Delhi. Xmas package starts at Rs9000/- for 2n/3d with bfast,camel safari and evening bon fire. Guide can also be hired for village tour of havelis.(Contact us for more details) NY package at Rs 13000/- for 2n/3d with all meals and gala dinner on 31st Dec.

Packages and itineraries available for Jodhpur, Bikaner,Jasialmer,Udaipur,Pushkar.

FOR BOOKINGS INFORMATION & MORE OPTIONS LOG ON TO OUR SITES BELOW

AroundDelhi.com Shimla-Resorts.com Mussoorie-Hotels.com

Contact Seema 0-9891458220/ Anand 0-9811193634(10 AM-8PM)/ EMAIL us for bookings and packages.

Claridges Surajkund Conference

2009-10-30T06:05:00.000-07:00

          Just back from organising a conference at a new 5 star hotel near Delhi-The Claridges Surajkund, a lovely Business cum leisure hotel. Very nicely located on the Shooting range road near the Surajkund lake, a very green and quiet area. The Claridges hotel has about 200+ rooms with most of them overlooking the Courtyard with a beautiful lawn and a spectacular Dancing fountain with burning fires making it a treat to watch. The staff was very professional and since we were handling the top 11 executives of a big telecom company I was a little nervous about the services. The check in was handed expertly and even all the arrangements were as required. We were using one of the smaller halls the 'Cilantro' and the place had an excellent pre function area for lunch, tea etc.
          The rooms at Claridges Surajkund are just too good with even the base category rooms being about 400sq feet with all the facilities like 42 inch LCD, a sofa to relax apart from the king size or twin beds. There is a tea/coffee maker and an electronic safe for the guests. There is a separate work desk if you want to do some written work. The bathrooms have both a bathtub and a glass shower cubicle with premium bathroom amenities. You also have wifi and interactive web tv along with 24 hour room service. The Courtyard rooms are even better with a huge balcony and overlooking the central courtyard. even the balcony has a set of chairs and a recliner.
   Coming to the Food and Beverage section, the multi cuisine section provides a great range of dishes along with a cold section served on the central verge of a table with ice cubes keeping things cool. There is also a Blue bar with a choice collection of hard liquor and some of the best wines available in India. The meal I had was the breakfast when the choice of fruits, confectionery, cold meats etc left one spoilt for choice.
           The hotel is also promoting special Weekend Packages for couples and family which being introductory packages(bound to go up soon) are definitely a steal.

Romantic Package for Couple

2days & 1 Nite in deluxe room @ Rs.11999/- includes-

    * Welcome drink on arrival
    * Upgrade to room with private balcony facing central courtyard (subject to availability)
    * Bottle of wine and special chef amenities in room
    * Cocktails at Bluebar 2030 – 2130 hours(pouring brands, 2 drinks per person)
    * Evening Tea set up in the balcony (1730 – 1830 hours). Choice of Earl Grey, Darjeeling    High Elevation, Assam High Elevation, Green tea
    * Candle light dinner at the courtyard
    * After meal drink
    * Movies on demand
    * Brunch at Oasis on Sunday 1100 to 1500 hours
    * Couple massage
    * Late check out till 1600 hrs.

Also available the Family Package for 2 adults and 2 children below 12 years

New Year Package- Bfast and gala dinner package with dance troupe,live band,DJ and unlimited snacks & drinks only at Rs 15999/- for a couple and two kids below 12 years.

I think Claridges Surajkund is a perfect place to hold a conference or just spend a lazy weekend. One can even hop over for 2 nights stay straight from office on Friday as it is just 30 mins from South Delhi and one hour from Gurgaon/Noida.

Contact Anand 0-9811193634/ Seema 0-9891458220/ EMAIL us for bookings and packages.
More one nite options around Delhi

R.Anand

Classic Hilltop Chamba Uttaranchal

2009-10-30T01:57:00.000-07:00

Visited Chamba, Uttaranchal with a group of about 50 people for a leisure group. Started in the night on two 27 seaters and the driver was good but the roads not too good, still we were there in about 8 hours, which is good time. The Delhi-Haridwar Highway is being four laned and you have to constantly switch between single and double roads, but I think things will be much better shortly as construction is complete. The route is via Merrut, Muzzafarnagar, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Narendernagar. We were staying at the Classic Hilltop Chamba, which is literally at the top of a hill and at least 200m above in height from the Mussoorie-Chamba road. The first thing that strikes you as you hit the place is the wonderful view of the snow capped peaks of Himalayas giving you and almost 180 degree view of these wonderful natural precipices. You can see Yamunotri, Nanda Devi, Gangotri and more. The view from the lawns is fantastic and having tea at these lawns was as great a welcome as it gets. The weather in middle September was just perfect, not too cold and not warm in the day. Chamba is about 50k from Mussoorie

The rooms at Classic Chamba are comfortable and some of them give the same view. The breakfast was refreshing and the group were given some free time to recuperate. Post lunch we headed for the Tehri Dam about 15 km away. The Dam, which has been recently commissioned, is important to the whole of North India for it’s electricity generation and irrigation. The whole of Tehri town was submerged to make a reservoir for the dam, the depth of the reservoir is more than a km and the view from the Gallery of the two rivers merging is seen to be believed.

In the evening we had a poolside party with DJ where various games and dance were organized and the whole group including the children enjoyed it a lot. Next day we traveled to Dhanaulti/Dhanolti which is about 22 km from Chamba. Dhanolti is an un spoilt hill station with lovely views and thick Deodar forests with green meadows. There is an eco park at Dhanaulti giving an insight to vegetation of the area and it is great place to relax and visit. One can also stop at Kanatal on the way to Dhanauti. On the way back we stopped at Haridwar, Har Ki Paudi where most guests took a dip in the holy Ganges. So Chamba, Uttaranchal turned out to be a perfect leisure destination with great weather, lots of thing to and not too far from Delhi.

Contact Anand 0-9811193634/ Seema 0-9891458220/ EMAIL us for bookings and packages and group tours to Chamba,Mussoorie or Kanatal.

R.Anand,

Around Delhi